Funny Snow Removal Flyer... I need help coming up with headline/body copy

Thanks for your insight. You're probably right about trying too hard to be funny. I'll probably just use a funny dog picture like the one above to grab attention but keep it a normal and casual conversation on the body of the copy.



"Be clear about what the buyer can expect." Woww... this hit me like a ton of bricks! You're absolutely right.



I should be very specific such as "remove snow from driveways, sidewalks, steps, top of vehicles, add salt everywhere so your family/kids don't fall and get hurt" etc.



The reason I'd like to distribute the flyers 5 hours before the snow falls (or immediately after) is so that it's fresh in their minds. If I deliver the flyers a few days before, the flyer could get lost or thrown in the trash. But if they see it while the snow is falling or after the snow falls, they're more likely to feel overwhelmed with all that work outside and decide to pay for the service.


Putting the price on the flyer I think is best, that way I only get texts and calls from people that can afford it.



Thanks very much for your assessment!

Awesome headline, thanks for your great ideas! You're right, I gotta be careful trying to be funny in a serious painful situation like getting blasted with snow.

I heard it helps people brainstorm for ideas. But unfortunately, Ai creeps me out. lol


I heard that Ai are actual real dead people doing the intelligence. Maybe am being too paranoid or something.

Thanks Steve. Giving a discount or giving something away for free sounds like a great idea. This could absolutely 100% increase conversions.

It's funny that you say the name 'Snow Dogs' because I thought about writing the flyer as if a dog wrote it. lol


For example "Hi my name is Woofy the snow dog, me and my human friends are in the neighborhood shoveling snow. Bla bla bla..." I could probably print 500 flyers and do a test.

You're right Kay, I'm over thinking it too much. A simple headline calling out the problem, an attention-grabing funny picture of a dog shoveling snow, bullet points with the details of the service, prices, scarcity, and a call to action (CTA) should be enough. Thanks!

There are lots of famous marketers like Billy Gene, he uses humor on his Youtube Ads. Also, big advertising agencies like the Harmon Brothers use 100% humor on their ads.


They did that famous Purple mattress commercial with the bigfoot/sasquatch family in the forest, which made Purple mattress a household name and got Purple six-digit sales.



Here's their hilarious moma sasquatch video ...



https://www.youtube.com/embed/XNT2mBjLoTk



The Harmon Brothers agency are behind a lot of successful marketing campaigns, and they've done tons of videos for various brands.


It's no accident or coincidence that all their funny ads pull so much ROI... humor is their biggest weapon.

I remember that the Harmon Brothers agency made a marketing course on how to use funny ads to outsell the competition but I never bought it. Maybe I should buy it in the summer when I have more free time.

I was always a huge fan of people using humor in ads but I never used it because I was afraid to cross that "professional" invisible line.

But I'm tired of playing it safe dammit. It's about time that I start using it!

Yes, of course. And you are a PROFESSIONAL copywriter, not a biz newbie looking to pick up some work with fliers, of a very specific TIME oriented task...no snow, he doesn't work nor does his dog.

It would take all of 10 seconds to vary any flyer with/without dogs, dawgs, or whatever to run 250 of each...and even then, will he really know from that small sample if it was effective?

If he BRANDS it, as in Snow DAWGS, with a pic of a sled team pulling a plow, or a rescue dog with a barrel of rum around its neck, then that might become his brand.

All those you mention had distinct personalities where their humor was a part of their personna. Halbert's biggest loss was a funny radio ad that brought in 0 sales, and he went a long time between that failure and establishing his humor in his craft.

This guy needs to get the word out, and he has enough feedback here to go out and test it, with dogs, cats or geicos/lizards...in the snow plowing game it is all about AVAILABILITY at the time the service is needed, not because some flier has a cute animal on it.

But, he has a few days to decide what he wants to do. It really doesn't require this much thought and speculation, does it?

Again, amateurs need to know they do not have the professional skills, as you do, to start tweaking their copy (on a flier no less), until they actually have some business to begin with.

Good luck to the guy with the plow.

GordonJ

Absolutely, humor sells. And there's lots of marketers and agencies using it to bring the green grasshoppers. Especially animals and humor. Of course, there's a step by step formula to everything. You just gotta know how and when to use it.

Thank you for the detailed tips! Those were great highlights.



I particularly like the idea of adding a guarantee.



For example, I'll probably say that if the work is not done properly that they won't pay a dime.



That way if a prospect's hesitation from becoming a client was that the work won't be done correctly, then that excuse won't be a problem anymore.



I'll try not to make the flyer too busy with text either, just say enough to make it an irresistible offer with an urgency to act now.



I'll test different flyer variations, I'll print 200x5=1000.



Each 200 flyer has a different ad and price point.



I'll probably use a different phone number in each flyer variation, that way I'll see which got me the most orders.

Magnet ads for the refrigerator is a great idea. Also, I've been looking into the USPS' Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM), which allows me to send 1000 postcards/flyers for $200.



I filled out their online price on their site and found out I could blanket my entire local city for $2,997. There's noooo way that my team could handle all those orders. lol


Of course, assuming the postcard/flyer converts well.


I'm even thinking of using Facebook Ads as a test. It will have the same funny dog picture shoveling snow and basically the same copy in the flyer.



How crazy it will be to get a flyer on the mail a day before the storm, then see it again on Facebook the day of the snow storm.


Maybe the title of the flyer on the mail will say...


"WARNING (CITY NAME): Snow Storm it's Coming Tomorrow... Keep This Flyer Handy in Case You Need Us!"



Something like that.


Anywho...



You said: "You have about 30-60 days left in snow season?"


Actually, the model of this snow removal business allows me to be the middle man.



I don't do the shoveling or plowing myself.



I wasn't gonna share this business idea with anyone, but because you guys been so nice and helpful, I'm gonna share it.


You see, a month ago it snowed like crazy in my city and I wanted to leave my house, but I couldn't, so I felt like a prisoner. I also didn't had a snow shovel. I had to use a regular cement shovel that I found in my basement. Boy was that heavy... I was so miserable after 10 mins.



Then an idea hit me.



Snow removal is not a service that people "want"... it's a service that people actually desperately "need" and "require" after a snow storm.


They're practically hostages and prisoners in their own homes.


They want to go out and..


*Go to work
*Go food shopping
*Go to the mall
*Go to the airport
*Go out on a date
*Go to school
*Etc, etc.


The problem is, that most people hate to shovel snow in the cold...


Whether you're 16, 36, or 76 years old... they absolutely hate it.



So...


I said to myself,


What if I placed an ad on Craigslist that said...


"Get paid to shovel snow all day, no experience necessary, all you need is a snow shovel. If you have a snow blowing machine in your garage even better. Call/text me at 2222222".


Then, when the day of the snow storm happens and I get texts/calls from homeowners needing help, I'll simply text the address to the people that replied to the Craigslist ad and they'll go to take care of the snow.


This snow business model you don't need a website, plow truck, Google ads, SEO, nothing... just a phone number on the flyer. Period.


Like I said, when the calls come in, you simply text the address to your team and they'll take care of the rest.



You can even pay for salt and ask one of your team members to go around putting salt to the homes that already been serviced.



The beauty of this hands-off biz model, is that you can do this even if you live in Hawaii or Florida.


All you need is a cell phone and internet access to know where in the US/world is gonna be the next snow storm. Which is basically everyday!



Talk about a "Light bulb moment" for me!



If in Chicago Illinois is gonna snow in 10 days from now, that's plenty of time to select a neighborhood that you want to spread your flyer. Then all you do is place a Craiglist ad in the local Illinois area.



I've never seen nobody else doing this type of snow business this way before. It's very unique and different, and doesn't require the typical expenses and time, such as getting a website, SEO, expensive Google ads, truck, shovel snow, etc...



Just a number on the flyer.



Heck, you don't even need a logo.


You gotta remember that people after a snow storm are desperate, they need and require your service to bail them out of an ice cold prison. They don't care who the f you are or how many years you have in business.


And if you claim to offer the snow removal service at a 40-50% off less price than the real PROS in the city, then I wonder who they're gonna pick to get them the heck out of "jail".


Maybe they'll text/call you mi amigo.



Best part.


Next time that there's another snow storm, who do you think they're gonna call? ;-)


Ghost busters?


Nah, you.


Imagine this.



You can even send a mass SMS text to your entire list of past clients.


Something like...



"Hi, last time it snowed we removed the snow outside your house. We're back in the neighborhood, simply reply back "Ok' and we'll come over again to remove the snow for you."


Now let's do a little math...


If you send out 1000 flyers and you get just 7% orders. (This percentage could be higher under the stressful snow circumstances)



That's 70 houses.


If you get $49.95 per house.



Plus, an upsell of salt ($19.95)


That's $4,892


That's not bad.


Of course, it's up to you how much you want to charge your clients and pay your team.


As long you are in profit you should be good.



And keep in mind, you could place 10,000 flyers before a snow storm and make even more moola.



And if later you want to hire a personal assistant to manage everything for you, you could do that.



Now, I don't know if this business model could work.



But the potential is there for sure.


Like they say, "demand and supply".



But anyway, there you go...


I shared the details.



What's your opinion about this snow removal business model?

Hey if you don't see the potential in my idea then that's on you.



You could be seating on a goldmine and not even know it.


I did a search on eBay for the cost of printing 1000 flyers, it's only $25 for black and white, and $50 for color laser copies, both sides.



Search for "1000 Custom Printing Service 8.5" x 11" Black&White Flyers" on eBay, their rates are 20 times cheaper than at your local print shop.



With the low investment cost of this snow business model, being profitable on every snow storm is actually quite possible.


You guys might not see it, but if just one person reading this thread gets it, it could make him/her some serious dinero if they do it correctly.


I'm gonna be giving it a try soon.

Kay!

Remind me again.

What was it you said about using humor in ads?


Steve


P.S. Ernesto - I think the idea is - get on and use it!

My concern is by the time the campaign starts people will be basking in the summer sunshine.

And you may have to alter snow removal to garden maintenance.

lol I know right.

I live just outside of NY, there are lots of regular residential houses. I doubt that people would call police for a flyer about helping them with the snow.



Even if one Karen does call police, they can't do anything about it because distributing flyers is not an illegal activity. Door to door flyer distribution for local businesses is done everyday in the US. Of course, you're not allowed to post it in or outside the mailbox. But other than that, it's fine.


Yes you're right about insurance and being licensed. However, doing a quick test to see the conversion rate and profitability potential of this business model could be worth looking into.



Besides, I doubt that a simple plain white flyer with no logo, just a picture of a dog and a few paragraphs that said "We're here in the neighborhood shoveling snow and helping out the community, if you need us let us know. Call/text 222-2222" would barely raise an eyebrow. Especially after a freezing heavy snowstorm.



The flyer wouldn't even sound like it was designed and printed by a professional local business, more like a group of nice guys trying to make a side hustle by helping out the neighbors.



Like I said, is just a small test to learn the numbers. If the math checks out, than absolutely, phase 2 of establishing the business can begin.

I totally agree about being insured and all that safety steps to protect yourself. However, in order to know if this business model is sustainable, scalable, and profitable, I'd need to first run a test.


I'll like to know the numbers.



I'll need to get 1 or 2 snowstorms under my belt to see what is the demand for the service and the conversion rate of the flyers/marketing.



This test will let me know if getting insured and building a website for the snow removal service is worth my time. Is it a risk to fly without a safety net?... yes. But if my hunch is correct, than the risk would had been worth it.


Besides, I'll take a few extra precautions and preventive measures to reduce any accidents and incidents from happening.



"you need to have a barnstormingly brilliant USP that positions you head and shoulders above all the competition."


Well said Steve, you sound like Todd Brown. He is constantly talking about the USP and about the E5 method. He's my favorite marketer and mentor.

For sure, the more fancy stuffs on any menu, the more you gonna confuse people to choose BURGER & FRIES.

That's an interesting idea worth testing, selling leads directly to already established snow removal businesses. I would likely start by hiring laborers, then test selling the leads to snow removal business owners.

Where there's a serious pain or heavy burden that you can fix for a market, there's always room to make money with your product or service.

Here's a tip to get started, today its in the 50s on the East Coast. Tuesday, February 13. A snowstorm that's been moving in from the West Coast, is forecast to bring snow to Binghampton, and several other areas in New York. Also, it is possible to snow depending on the weather patterns just north of NYC. That is 4 days to get your marketing flyer ready and to start looking for hires. That would be a good head start to try testing your product. If you choose this date, let us know how your Marketing works out.

You got a lot of moving parts in your plan, that you need to figure out. Don't forget the prices for different amounts of accumulations. Plus the different sizes in properties. You do not want to quote $49.00 to shovel out 6 or more inches of snow on a large 3-car driveway, with sidewalks between neighbors and a long path to the front door, with 4-5 steep steps. Compared to a 1 car driveway with no sidewalks.

Snow hits NYC?

Who needs dahgs or divine intervention whenya can shrug till the enda time?

"Yeah, so my sistah Suzie shrugs so hard she can fry BACON jus' like it was on the hood of a car in DEATH VALLEY."

"Pile the ****** forty feet high! We're New Yorkers, not losers!"

"Your rooral dumbass problem ain't the snow, it is your STYX. So move where the people are an' hug close till you aflame with paranoia."

* lost the plaht with that las' one, lemme try agin ... *

"The only snow in Brooklyn is avalanche after avalanche of cocaine."

* naht helpin, Princess. 'Nuthah try, jus' to be sure you gaht it ... "

"When aliens pull your corpse form the depths of Oblivion, your "NYC" data (evin if'n it jus' yr DICK) will inspire their science for the next 10,000,000 years"

* Princess Pause here *

" ... an' then, they too will die."

Bonus Fickin' Whatevah:

"Yeah, but least'n SNOW ain't no kinda TYPHOON. That only happens where all they got to be sucked away steada buried is TRASH."

I will as soon as I can give it my full attention. I wanna do this right, not half baked.


And absolutely, I'll post my results on this thread.


Even if it goes terrible, I don't mind sharing the results. I'm not the type that's afraid to look bad. All I care about is learning from the campaign.



However, I got a feeling that it's gonna go well.